You are here

Ros-Lehtinen, Deutch Offer Condolences to Families of Gilad, Naftali, Eyal and People of Israel, Vow to Support Israel in Its Efforts to Pursue Perpetrators

Jun 30, 2014

Ros-Lehtinen, Deutch Offer Condolences to Families of Gilad, Naftali, Eyal and People of Israel, Vow to Support Israel in Its Efforts to Pursue Perpetrators

(Jerusalem, Israel) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Ranking Member of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, issued this statement following the news that the bodies of Gilad Shaar, Naftali Frankel and Eyal Yifrach – the three Israeli teens abducted on June 12, 2014 while returning home from school – were found earlier today near Hebron. Reps. Ros-Lehtinen and Deutch are in Israel as part of a Congressional fact finding mission to the region, and were scheduled to meet with the families on Tuesday, July 1, 2014.

Joint Statement: “No words can adequately express the sorrow and sadness we feel for the families of Gilad, Naftali and Eyal, the people of Israel and the entire Jewish community worldwide. This is a day of tragedy and mourning; the world has lost three beloved sons, friends, and beautiful souls who were taken from us too early, but will forever live on in our hearts and minds. We will continue to support the Government of Israel in its efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, and we offer the people of Israel our deepest and most heartfelt condolences as we grieve with them. If it is determined that Hamas is behind this horrific tragedy, Abu Mazen must immediately break up the unity agreement between Fatah and Hamas, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization.”